Pete Buttigieg

The Donald Trump Impeachment Trial Helps Promote Moderates Over Progressives In Democratic Presidential Competition

Ronald 9 Comments

Last night’s Iowa Democratic Presidential Debate added “steam” to the belief that moderates are gaining over progressives, based on performance, and also on the reality that the upcoming Donald Trump impeachment trial will “bench” the two leading progressives, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, along with Amy Klobuchar and “forgotten” candidate Michael Bennet, giving the edge to Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg.

For a few weeks, beyond Iowa and probably including New Hampshire, those Senators will be unable to campaign in person, a major disadvantage.

It could be that it will have no effect on Iowa or New Hampshire, but the feeling is growing that it might be that a ticket will emerge of Joe Biden for President, with his experience, knowledge, and likability, running with Mayor Pete for Vice President, from the Midwest heartland, and making a major step forward as an openly gay Vice Presidential nominee .

Experience, youth, and likability, all in one ticket!

At the same time, a ticket of Biden with Amy Klobuchar, or a ticket of Pete for President and Amy for VP or vice versa would be fine, too!

Iowa Presidential Debate Crucial As Caucuses Are Three Weeks From Today

Ronald 3 Comments

The Democratic Presidential debate on Tuesday night is crucial as the caucuses near us three weeks from today.

The latest polls indicate close to a four way split, with only five points between first place finisher Bernie Sanders and fourth place finisher Joe Biden.

It is clear anything could happen on February 3, and it could dramatically influence New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada later in February.

We must remember that Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Barack Obama in 2008 went on to the Presidency after winning iowa in those years.

A win in Iowa could lead to victories in New Hampshire and onward, and that, if occurring, could have a dramatic effect on Super Tuesday, when 14 states, including California and Texas, the two largest, vote in primaries and caucuses on March 3.

A failure to end up at least in third place in Iowa would likely be the death knell of a candidacy.

And yet, even Amy Klobuchar, who is not seen seriously right now, but being from neighboring state Minnesota, could surprise us, having visited all 99 counties in Iowa.

So Tuesday’s debate will be a test of how she can perform, along with how Joe Biden will fare, and also whether Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, numbers one and two, treat each other. Additionally, whether Pete Buttigieg, now third in most polls, can compete against his older and more experienced rivals.

How the debate is judged by media will certainly have a dramatic effect on the likely voting lineup on February 3.

But an additional potential influence on what happens in Iowa and New Hampshire is the upcoming Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump, which will force Sanders, Warren and Klobuchar off the campaign trail, possibly giving an edge to Biden and Buttigieg.

Iowa A “Free For All” One Month Out From Democratic Presidential Caucuses

Ronald 3 Comments

One month out from the Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucuses, and it is clear that a “Free For All” is developing, with any of five candidates seen as the potential first place finisher.

One poll shows a tie among Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg, but to think that next door Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar should be ignored is an unwise assumption, as she has just completed visiting all 99 counties in the Hawkeye State, and that could lead to a surprise as her stock seems to be rising.

Also, Elizabeth Warren cannot be dismissed, as she is a fighter, and really, anything could happen in Iowa.

At the same time, there is a growing feeling that Bernie Sanders could, in theory, win Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada, all in February, and with his large financial base from ordinary citizens, he could be the Democratic Presidential nominee, if he does indeed sweep the first three states, as that could create momentum for Super Tuesday on March 3.

The Ten Major Heroes Of Public Affairs In 2019

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The list of major heroes of public affairs in 2019 would include the following in no special order:

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of California

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff of California

Former House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings of Maryland

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York

Former President Jimmy Carter of Georgia

Former President Barack Obama of Illinois

Former Vice President Joe Biden of Maryland

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Representative Ted Deutch of Florida

Representative Eric Swalwell of California

6th Democratic Debate Easily The Best, With Pete Buttigieg And Amy Klobuchar Gaining Status And Joe Biden Doing Well Too!

Ronald 1 Comment

Watching the Los Angeles Democratic debate last night, it was clear that it was, by far, the best of the six debates, with the fact that there were only seven debaters being one of the major reasons, requiring more depth and development of their views.

And the debaters came through well, with all seven having moments of impressiveness.

But the clear cut winners were moderates Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, both of whom hit home runs, with excellent statements and retorts when challenged.

At the same time, Joe Biden had his best debate, and Elizabeth Warren also continued to do well.

Bernie Sanders held his own, but shouted too much, while Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang, still the least of the seven, doing better than one would have expected.

The absence of Julian Castro and Cory Booker was felt, however, and it remains a shame that Kamala Harris dropped out of the Presidential race due to financial issues.

The next President was on that stage, and the odds on both Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar vastly improved!

Los Angeles PBS-Politico Democratic Debate In Narrowed Field: Opportunity For Pete Buttigieg And Amy Klobuchar To Gain

Ronald 11 Comments

Tonight’s Democratic debate in Los Angeles, co-sponsored by PBS and Politico, has a narrowed field of only seven candidates who qualified in polls and financial support.

Sadly, only one person of color, Andrew Yang, who is of Chinese parents from Taiwan, is in the debate, with Cory Booker and Julian Castro unable to meet the thresholds required.

It is an opportunity for Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Amy Klobuchar, both moderates, to shine and gain on Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, all considered front runners at this point.

The odds of the other two candidates, both businessmen without political experience–Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang–seems unlikely to benefit.

This is the time for Pete and Amy to surge forward, and we shall see how they perform in the two and a half hour debate starting at 8 pm Eastern time.

Is UK Election Result A Warning Sign To Democrats For Presidential Election Of 2020?

Ronald 3 Comments

The massive defeat for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party in the United Kingdom, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson gaining legitimacy for Brexit, is a shock that might be a strong warning to the Democrats for the Presidential Election of 2020.

It IS possible that Donald Trump could win a second term, and IF Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren were to be the Democratic nominee, portrayed as too far to the left, that could be the result.

It could be that this promoted the moderate centrist view–that Joe Biden, or Pete Buttigieg, or Amy Klobuchar–might be the best choice for the Democrats.

Who Does Barack Obama Want To Be The Democratic Presidential Nominee?

Ronald 10 Comments

Former President Barack Obama has been very careful to avoid any hint of who he supports for the Democratic Presidential nomination, but making clear he will endorse someone when the smoke has cleared, and it is obvious who is the future nominee.

That is not a new idea for former Presidents, as they do not wish to undermine their own reputations by interfering in the process in an open fashion.

But there are strong rumors that Obama tried to convince former Vice President Joe Biden not to run, only to be ignored by Biden.

There are also strong hints that Obama is concerned that if Senator Bernie Sanders or Senator Elizabeth Warren is the nominee, that it will harm the Democrats’ chances to win over Donald Trump, as Obama seems to believe that Medicare for All is a losing proposition with many voters.

The feeling seems to exist that Obama might prefer Mayor Pete Buttigieg as a bridge to the future, as he was, and as John F. Kennedy was 60 years ago.

Major Moment: Joe Biden Confronts Voter Who Challenges His Age And His Son Hunter Biden

Ronald 8 Comments

Yesterday was a major moment in the Presidential campaign of 2020, with Joe Biden confronting an Iowa voter who challenged his age and his son, Hunter Biden.

Biden answered in a very appropriate manner, and gave this blogger renewed confidence in his candidacy, after many doubts earlier.

Biden has gone through the worst tragedy anyone could experience, the loss of a son, Beau Biden, which clearly put him into a period of depression, and Biden has known what tragedy is, with the loss in 1972 of his first wife and their daughter in an auto accident, in which both Biden sons, Beau and Hunter, were seriously injured.

Joe has been a survivor, but has also shown his humanity and compassion as a result of these tragedies in his life, including his aneurysm that nearly killed him in 1988, requiring brain surgery.

One could wish that Joe was younger, but in comparison to Bernie Sanders and Michael Bloomberg, both around the same age, with Bernie 14 months older and Bloomberg nine months older, this author would still prefer Joe in the White House.

Joe needs not to defend his son Hunter, as when one looks at the careers of Donald Trump’s sons and daughter, and how they have used their father’s name and reputation to benefit themselves, there is no need for Joe to defend his son.

As far as the concern with Joe’s age, as with the other two future octogenarians, it would still be preferable to have a younger nominee, such as Pete Buttigieg, but at this point, while this author likes Pete, it will ultimately be up to the voters in the next few months as to whether youth is preferred over age and experience.

Any concerns about Joe’s ability to perform against Trump now seems laid to rest after the way he handled this Iowa voter.

And as far as what if something happens to Joe in the White House, it could not be worse than with Donald Trump, and the same basic concern is there for Sanders, who suffered a mild heart attack, and Bloomberg, as no one can guarantee health.

That makes, however, the smart choice of a Vice President ever more urgent, no matter who the Democratic nominee is in 2020!

Kamala Harris Withdrawal From Presidential Race Changes The Equation

Ronald 1 Comment

It was surprising that California Senator Kamala Harris withdrew from the Democratic Presidential competition yesterday, something no one could have predicted would happen so early.

Senator Harris said that money took her out of the race, as she is not a billionaire, and that brings up the issue of the absolute necessity to do something to prevent the future political scene only being based on personal wealth, as with Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer, who should not have the ability to compete simply based on their personal wealth.

The need for a turnover of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision of 2010, and the passage of another equivalent McCain-Feingold Act is urgent.

For right now, Harris’s withdrawal changes the equation, giving potential new life to New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and former San Antonio Mayor and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, as otherwise, there will be no diversity to the Democratic debates coming on December 19 in Los Angeles, plus the future debates in the early months of 2020.

And the question also arises as to where Harris staff will gravitate, with the possibility of them going to South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg or Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, as the most likely campaigns that may gain such support.